Someone I know told me their father use to say “Anyone who owns a gun is a potential killer.” I use to reject that statement as overly simplistic, not reflecting the responsibilities most gun owners exercise. After the events in Florida, when an innocent 17-year-old young man was killed by someone, who some people suggest, was exercising his right to self-defense, I am not so sure.

Now I have to think, maybe I was also overly simplistic in not considering the hazards and dangers of so many people having guns with very little emphasis on the responsibilities of using a firearm. A person’s right to self-defense should not invade an innocent person’s right to life and liberty.

In its public posture, I have never heard the National Rifle Association talk about or consider the responsibilities of gun owners to respect the rights people without guns. When does a gun owner’s right to self-defense outweigh my rights to be safe from that gun owner using a firearm around me? Does my right of equal protection under the law have any merit in comparison to broad laws that give people few limits in what they say they perceive as a legitimate right to self-defense.

For a long time gun-rights advocates have been single-minded in advancing the importance of the rights of gun ownership and the right to self-defense. I have agreed with the basic concept of gun rights with some common-sense reservations based on the fact that some people shouldn’t have guns and some gun reform can make us just a little safer. It now appears that we have gone too far in immunizing individuals from investigation and prosecution for violating the boundaries of another person. – Mark Madsen, Chula Vista

A power ploy?

I read that this summer San Diego may not have the 20 percent of its power that comes from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (March 22).

The demand for electricity for air conditioning “strains the system” and may require rolling blackouts.

SDG&E must be relieved that so many of us having installed solar on our sunny rooftops.

Our personal net consumption is almost zero, even in the winter months.

We’ll be sending power to the SDG&E grid when summer comes.

I’m sure the future pricing structure for solar installations will continue to encourage solar in San Diego.

That makes sense, right? – Sally W. Stoffel, San Diego

It’s a bloataucracy

I think your two recent articles about CSU should have been printed together. First, on March 20, you wrote that CSU threatens to cut enrollment if taxpayers do not vote for tax increases this year. Then, on March 21, you wrote that CSU is raising the pay of two campus presidents by 10 percent.

My first question is why does anyone making over $300,000 in base salary also need $1,000 per month car allowance and another $5,000 per month housing allowance? My next few questions are: What will CSU REALLY do with increased tax money? Will it increase the number of teachers/students/classes? Will it lower tuition costs? Or will it feel the need to add in extras, like vacation and spa day allowances, to the campus presidents to help them deal with the stress of having fewer teachers/students/classes to oversee, while fleecing the taxpayer of his ability to get a college education?

No. I will not vote for a tax increase so more bloated bureaucrats can get 10 percent pay increases while the taxpayers they supposedly work for sink lower and lower with higher taxes and limited education choices. – Ann Gadow, El Cajon

Church is rapped, revered

The “Making A Difference” interview with Pastor Miles McPherson (“Church a rock of community,” March 20) is a tribute to an evangelical minister who views his volunteerism and community service an important part of his ministry.

To the question he was asked, “What would make San Diego a better place?,” McPherson responded, “I think love. People being kind to one another and finding a way they can do their part to improve the quality of life for someone each day.” What more Christian a sentiment can that be?

Except what about the church’s neighbors in Liberty Station where Rock attendees from the megachurch tie up the streets every weekend with traffic, close a public street every Sunday and other occasions, place snipers on your rooftop for public funerals, place illegal signs, and question a person’s religious beliefs when asked why they park on streets that have your “ No Church Parking” signs erected? What have McPherson and the church done lately for the neighbors in Liberty Station?

I am in a dilemma as to whether or not I want to subject myself to rude flips-offs from church attendees, threats of retaliation if I object to increasing incursions into Liberty Station with signs and street closures and extensions of church property lines because it is not subject to property taxes for streets, parking lots and sidewalks.

“Love Your City” is relegated to those areas The Rock Church wishes to be affiliated with, not the neighbors in its own neighborhood of Liberty Station. A rock is a great object unless it is tied around your neck. – Jean Nemer, Point Loma

Pastor Miles McPherson and the wonderful people of The Rock Church have taken Community Service to a new level. They give millions of dollars in volunteer time and materials to the City and County with God’s love. This article about people loving our community was excellent. Thank you for printing “good news.” If we all gave our time and talent to our community, our city and county would be so much better. – Julie Dillon, Point Loma

Thank you for your inspiring and wonderful story about Pastor Miles McPherson of The Rock Church. My husband and I have been attending the Rock since the very first service. After church shopping and really seeking out where we felt at home in a church, this is where God led us. Many churchgoers “play church” – they go to church on Sunday, and then forget about God the rest of the week. The Rock Church is the complete antithesis of this “country club Christianity.” It has taught me that loving my neighbor is imperative. I used to be able to drive through downtown and not see what I see now. Now I see people who need our help.

We can bring hope to this city. We don’t have to drive past a homeless person or anyone in need, and turn our heads anymore – and we shouldn’t. The Rock is really giving us a way to help and the courage to do so.

After watching a video about Pervasive Hope in church last month, our family was so moved that we filled bags of necessary items (socks, snacks, etc.) along with the Gospel of John. We walked (with our 5- and 7-year-old children) around downtown and handed them out to homeless people we saw. Our children were nervous at first, but after a while they were excited to shake people’s hands and tell them that Jesus loves them.

The Rock Church is moving in the San Diego community – with the quarterly community service projects, and the thousands of hours donated, we are so proud to be a part this amazing church! – Sonia Sturgeon, El Cajon

Change the system

The headline on Roger Hedgecock’s weekly diatribe says “California death spiral” (Opinion, March 20), but that is a misnomer. What is happening now with the governor’s proposals to increase taxes provides a life preserver to the millions of Californians who enjoy the services and benefits offered by the state.

Obviously, exuberant spending and insufficient incoming revenues have created a deficit situation. This is true for the federal government also. Hedgecock criticizes well but does not offer a solution. Here are three possible solutions:

1) cut spending, 2) increase tax revenues, or 3) change the system.

To cut spending where should we start? Who wants to give up their benefits? What services can we do without? Should we ask people receiving food stamps to eat less? Will those receiving social security agree to take less? Should we do away with the state Highway Patrol? the justice system? Right now the teachers are on the hot spot. Should we offer less education to fewer students? And so on . . . who will be the first to give up what they have? No one. People need the services and like the benefits. Cutting spending is not a popular choice for anyone, not for the beneficiaries of the services or the administrators in public office.

Increasing tax revenues is merely a temporary, illusory attempt to fix the problem which agitates the business world and the 1 percenters, or puts an additional burden on the lower income 99 percenters. Ultimately it does not provide enough revenue to eliminate the deficit. When taxes do exceed expenditures, new programs are initiated to spend the temporary surpluses. New taxes, though, do make people aware of the overall problem, while at the same time providing fodder for critics like Hedgecock.

President Obama was elected with a program that said change was needed.

Yes, that is what is needed – a change in the system. We need to recognize that people like government-provided benefits and services and that the capitalist system does not provide them equally to everyone. For every 1 percenter rightfully enjoying their largesse there are 99 others who are doing without. The recent Occupy movement made this point, but it was merely a ripple in the ocean of resentment felt by the masses.

Democracy is a good political system, but capitalism is a flawed economic system. Entrepreneurial endeavors find new ways to exploit labor. Entrepreneurs should be rewarded. However, their reward should be with recognition, not excessive amounts of money. Give them a medal and appropriate honors, but give the profits to the government to provide services.

In other words, change the system to eliminate profits and make government responsible to provide equal benefits to all! – Allan Wagner, Rancho Bernardo